Interpretation of sexual offences should not be limited only to physical act: NCW chief
NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar argued that judicial interpretations of sexual offences should prioritize the survivor's dignity and psychological trauma over technical definitions of physical acts. This statement follows a controversial Patna High Court ruling regarding an attempted rape case.
Why it matters
It addresses critical gaps in the judicial system's handling of sexual violence and the need for survivor-centric legal reforms in India.
National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) said the interpretation of sexual offences by courts should not be confined to the physical act alone, asserting that equal importance must be given to the survivor's dignity, consent, and the fear she experienced.
Ms. Rahatkar's remarks came after a Patna High Court judgment which, according to media reports, held that attempting to remove a woman's salwar and touching her chest did not amount to an attempt to rape.
"While interpreting sexual offences, the focus should not be limited only to the physical act. Equal importance must also be given to the survivor's dignity, her consent, the fear she experienced, and the psychological trauma caused by the incident," Ms. Rahatkar said.
The NCW chief said the objective of justice cannot be confined merely to a technical interpretation of the law.
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